Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Russia for Foreign Office Consultations on 16-17 March 2017. He held discussions with H.E. Mr. Igor Morgulov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and H.E. Mr. Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. They discussed the complete range of bilateral relations between India and Russia, including preparations for the forthcoming 18th India-Russia Annual Summit, participation of Prime Minister of India as the Chief Guest at the XXI St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on 1-2 June, 2017 and plans to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Russia. Both sides acknowledged the commonality of their positions on regional and global issues, reform of international institutions, cooperation against terrorism, anti-narcotics and cooperation in regional groups like SCO, BRICS and RIC.

Dr. Jaishankar called on Ambassador Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Policy Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, as well as on H.E. Mr. Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federation Council.

The discussions were held in a productive and forward looking atmosphere, and underlined the strong foundations of India-Russia relations, and the importance attached to them by both countries.

New Delhi
March 17, 2017